Attorney General Pam Bondi has warned California Governor Gavin Newsom that the state will lose federal funding if it refuses to end its sanctuary policies for illegal aliens ina letter posted on X.
In the letter to Newsom, Bondi stressed that cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement is essential to enforcing immigration law and protecting national security.
She said Congress has already made it clear that states and localities are obligated to assist in immigration enforcement.
“For too long, so-called sanctuary jurisdiction policies have undermined this necessary cooperation and obstructed federal immigration enforcement,” Bondi wrote, adding that such policies give “aliens cover to perpetrate crimes in our communities and evade the immigration consequences that federal law requires.”
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Trump Directs Crackdown on Sanctuary Jurisdictions
Bondi said President Donald Trump has directed her and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to identify sanctuary jurisdictions, notify them of violations of federal law, and review options to add immigration-related conditions to federal grants and contracts.
“As contemplated by the Executive Order, designation as a sanctuary jurisdiction may result in additional consequences and further agency actions as permitted by law,” Bondi wrote.
Federal Funds Already Paused for Sanctuary Cities
Earlier this year, Bondi paused federal funds for jurisdictions deemed “sanctuary cities” and directed the DOJ to investigate and prosecute local governments impeding immigration enforcement.
The warning to Newsom marks one of the most aggressive moves yet in the Trump administration’s campaign to dismantle sanctuary policies nationwide and restore full cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
